Cleaning device for printing-chains.



No. 889,507. PATENTEI) JUNE 2, 1908.

G. A. CHAMBERS.

CLEANING DBVICEFOR PRINTING CHAINS.

PPLIoATIoN FILED AP1\.9.1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. CHAMBERS, OF WEST HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOv THEPOLLARD- ALLING MANUFACTURING CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONOFNEW YORK.

CLEANING DEVICE FOR` PRINTING-CHAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed April 9, 1907. Serial No. 367,285. p

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. CHAMBERS, a citizen of the United States,residing in lVest Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CleaningDevices for Printing-Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus that operates to remove theaccumulated ink from printing surfaces in the form of a web, or a chainof printing plates.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that will operateon a web or chain during its advancement and by combined action of waterand brushes will effectually remove the ink from the irregular surfaceof the printing plates.

In the accompanying drawing representing an embodiment of my invention,Figure 1 is a plan view of the device on line 2 2 indicated in Fig. 2.Eig. 2 is aside elevation; and Fig. 3 shows one form of printing chainthat is formed by a series of hinged plates.

4The printing chain may be wound on a suitable reel 5 that is slip ed ona shaft 6 and suitably secured theron, t e shaft being rotatably mountedon a frame 7. A similar reel is secured on a shaft 8 rotatably carriedby the frame 7. The shaft 8 may be driven from a belt 9 by any suitablemeans,such as an electric motor. The web from the roll 5 has its endpassed through the cleaning device and then secured to the roll 8, andwound up thereon, by driving the pulley 4.

The cleaning of the web or, chain is effected while it is passing arounda drum 10, that is preferably provided with longitudinal groove 11 intowhich enter hinge portions 12 of the hinge printing plates 13, thatcompose .the chain, denoted generallyby 14. The printing chain from thesupply roll 5 is first passed around a guide roll 15 mounted above theroll 10, that is supported on a swinging arm 16, that is connected witha spring 17 to prevent undue strain on the chain. The chain 14 is passedaround the guide roll 15 and thence around the drum 10, and then has itsend secured to the roll 3 on which it is wound.

Adjacent one portion of the roll or drum 10 around which the chainpasses, lis a brush 18 that presses against the outer face of the chainplates that contain the raised letters in the form of an address orother inscription.

A Stream of waterpasses through a pipe 19 to the' brush to assist in thescrubbing operation. If desired, a fountain brush may be used of anysuitable type and the water passed between the bristles ofthe brush ontothe printing chain. In order to thoroughly clean the raised letters andespecially the transverse portions thereof, the brush is given areciprocating motion parallel with the axis ofthe drum, during themovement of the chain. The brush 18 is shown as secured on the end of alever 20 that is pivoted on a post 21. The rear end of the lever has aroller 22 engaged by the opposite walls of a cam slot 23 in a drum 24.The drum 24 may be driven by a chain 25 passing around a sprocket 26 onthe shaft 27 of the drum24 and also engaging a sprocket 29 fast on ashort shaft 30. A pulley 31 on shaft 30 is driven by a belt 32 passingaround a pulley 33 on the driving shaft 3. By this means, the brush isreciprocated, and will be given a double movement over the raised typeon the chain of printing plates, by reason of thev advance of the chainand the movement of the brush transversely thereto.

As the plates continue their movement around the drum from thereciprocating brush, they are engaged by a rotary brush 35 supported toengage the printing chain at the lower portion of the drum. This brushis driven by a chain 36 passing around a `s rocket`37 connected with thebrush and a so around a sprocket 38 mountedA on a short shaft 39. Asprocket 40 on the latter shaft is engaged by a chain 41 passing arounda sprocket 42 on the shaft 43 0f the drum 10. Another sprocket 44 on thedrum shaft is engaged by a chain 45 that is driven by a sprocket 46 onthe shaft 27 of the cam drum 24. By the latter means, the rotary brush35 is given a surface speed much greater than that of the printingchain, and any remaining portions of ink on the plates are effectuallyremoved.

The portion of the printing chain passing between the drum 10 and theroll 8 on which it is wound, is engaged by a stream of water from a pi eor nozzle 50, that will serve to rinse off t e plates and finally removeany matter that might still adhere thereto.

By this construction it will be seen that the printing chain will haveits type eifectually and thoroughly cleaned by the two brushes and thetwo streams of water. The first reciprocatory brush in combination withthe supply of water will loosen and remove a large part of the ink onthe type. And the rapidly moving rotary brushV will throw off theloosened particles not discharged by the other brush; while the streamof water from the nozzle 5() will serve to wash 0H any particles thatmight remain on the plates. The several motions given to the brusheswill also remove ink that would tend to accumulate at the hingedportions of the plates.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with meansfor supporting and winding up the web, of a movable member on which theweb is assed, a brush arranged to engage the we on said member, meansfor reciprocating the brush, a brush rotatably supported adjacent thesupporting member to engage the web passing around the movable memberbeyond the reci rocatory brush, means for rotating said rush, means forsu plying cleaning liquid to the reciprocatory rush, and means fordirecting a stream of liquid onto the treated web passing between thesupport'and the winding up means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with meansfor supporting and winding up the web, of a su porting drum rotatablymounted around w ich the web is passed, a brush arranged to engage theweb' passing around the drum, means for reci rocating the brush parallelwith the aXis o the drum, a brush rotatably supported adjacent the drumto engage the web passing around the drum beyond the reciprocatorybrush, means for rotating said brush, and means for directing a streamof water onto the web passing between the drum and the winding-up means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination oi a supplyroll, a windingup roll, means for driving the winding-up roll, a slotteddrum Jfor engaging the printing chain at its hinge ing the drum, apivoted lever on which the brush is mounted, a drum carrying a cam slot,the lever having a roller engaged by the walls of the cam slot in thedrum whereby the brush is reciprocated parallel with the axis of thechain drum, a rotary brush adjacent the chain drum for engaging theprinting chain, and means for driving the rotary brush.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination oi a supplyroll, a winding up roll, means for driving the winding-up roll, aslotted drum for engaging the printing chain at its hinge portions,means for rotating the drum, a brush arranged to engage the chainpassing around the drum, a pivoted lever on which the brush is mounted,a drum carrying a cam slot, the lever having a roller engaged by thewalls of the cam slot in the drum whereby the brush is reciprocatedparallel with the aXis of the chain drum, a rotary brush adjacent thechain drum for engaging thev printing chain, means for driving therotary brush, means for supplying water to the reciprocatory brush, andmeans for directing a stream of water onto the printing chain passingbetween the chain drum and the winding-up means.

Signed at Nos. 9 to l5 Murray street, NewA York, N. Y., this 8th day ofApril, 1907.

GEORGE A. CHAMBERS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. REID, FRED. J. DOLE.

ortions, means for rotat-

